Wings add experience behind bench by adding Tom Renney to staff

DETROIT — The Wings went with experience this time around when looking to hire the next assistant coach for Mike Babcock, naming former Edmonton Oilers coach Tom Renney to replace Jeff Blashill, who will coach the Grand Rapids Griffins next season.

Detroit, MI… Detroit Red Wings Executive Vice President and General Manager Ken Holland today announced that the club has hired Tom Renney as associate coach. Renney fills the vacancy created when former Assistant Coach Jeff Blashill accepted the head coaching position with Detroits American Hockey League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins. Renney has agreed to a three-year deal with the club. As per team policy, additional terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Renney, 57, spent the past three seasons with the National Hockey Leagues Edmonton Oilers. He joined the Oilers staff as an associate coach prior to the 2009-10 season. After just one season, Renney took over the reigns as the 10th head coach in franchise history on June 22, 2010. In his first campaign as head coach, the Cranbrook, B.C., native led the rebuilding Oilers to a 25-45-12 record. In total, Renney compiled a 57-85-22 record over two seasons as the bench boss of the young Edmonton squad.

Prior to his time in Edmonton, Renney spent nine seasons in various roles with the New York Rangers. During his first two seasons in Manhattan, Renney served as Director of Player Personnel where he oversaw the teams amateur scouts and provided assistance to New Yorks professional scouting department. Renney was promoted to Vice President, Player Development in 2002 and joined the Rangers coaching staff as an assistant coach in 2003. After a brief stint as interim head coach at the end of the 2003-04 season, Renney was officially named the 33rd head coach in Rangers history on July 6, 2004. He led the Blueshirts to three consecutive 40-win seasons and guided the team to a 164-121-42 record over 327 games from 2005-08.

Renney first broke into the NHL as the head coach of the Vancouver Canucks in 1996-97. He spent parts of two seasons with the Canucks, compiling a 39-53-9 record over 101 games. Renney made the move to Vancouver following his two-year tenure with Hockey Canada, serving as the head coach of the Canadian National Team that went on to capture a silver medal at the 1994 Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway.

Renney began his coaching career behind the bench of the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League in 1990. In two seasons with Kamloops, he led the Blazers to a 101-37-6 record, back-to-back WHL titles and a Memorial Cup championship in 1992.